42 replies to this topic

[danbt]

Well..

I cant really make my mind up :confused:

Me and a friend both love programming and want to program games. My friend has been learning C# and XNA for a while now and he introduced me to it. So im learning too. Hes quite a bit better than me, due to the fact that he doesnt have a girlfriend and has a lot of time to practice.

However, I understand that C++ is the industry standard for most things, especially games. So, is learning C# and XNA just taking the easy way out that isn't really going to lead anywhere.

Would it be better to learn this, and then move onto C++ and DX or OpenGL etc.

Or start learning the harder stuff now.

Thanks
Dan

[danbt]

Im pretty sure id like to do it for PC on the most part, purely because if i was to create something worth telling people about, it would be easier for everyone if it was on PC.

[Natrobius]

You are not going to lose too much time learning C#, however I would make an eventual goal of learning C++. If you're planning on using only the PC and xbox, then C# and XNA will be fine, however you will enjoy the power of C++ and OpenGL in the long run. My advice, bang out the easy games with the C#, and build the larger projects in C++.

[WingedPanther]

A question that hasn't been asked is: what type of games?

There are a lot of games that don't require a lot, and don't have to be heavily optimized, as a result. Popcap makes a lot of games that just beg for something like C#/XNA. You won't be making a game like Crysis with that any time soon, however.

[Natrobius]

WingedPanther,
I hadn't thought about companies like Popcap. lol

Really in answer to the question, you wouldn't be wasting any time learning C# unless your current project is going to be a high end, graphics intensive game.

[danbt]

Thanks for the replys.

And, im planning on making any game that comes to mind. However I thought it would be useful to learn the language that I will most likely have to use in industry.

[Natrobius]

danbt said:

Thanks for the replys.

And, im planning on making any game that comes to mind. However I thought it would be useful to learn the language that I will most likely have to use in industry.

You'll be best off learning C/C++ then...

[manux]

Natrobius said:

You'll be best off learning C/C++ then...

And Python ^^

Really a useful language for game scripting, I've used it many times inside a game engine, with success :thumbup1:

[JCoder]

And LUA.

[danbt]

yeh about LUA.

Ive heard the term and I know you can use it for game programming / scripting.

But i dont actually know how its used, I mean. If you program your game using C++ why would you use LUA? :confused:

Appreciate any replys.
Dan